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DocuSign Standards-Based Signatures

Easy-to-use digital signatures

Solutions that support all levels of digital signatures.

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Digital signatures from DocuSign

Electronic signatures are widely accepted as part of a modern system of agreement. But some businesses, regions and specific use cases may require digital signatures, which offer a heightened level of identity assurance through digital certificates.

DocuSign supports digital signatures at local standards, no matter where you are or what your use case is. Based on our robust eSignature platform, DocuSign Standards-Based Signatures offers easy-to-use solutions that support all levels of digital signatures:

• Electronic signatures
• Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES)
• Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES)

Learn More about Digital Signatures
A phone showing a signature in front of a laptop showing a home screen within DocuSign eSignature that prompts users to drop in documents to get started

Standards-Based Signature benefits

  • Offer a cloud-based signing experience

    Deliver a simple, easy-to-use signing experience from the cloud. Let signers use the digital signature options integrated with the eSignature interface without downloading plug-ins or software.

  • Support unique compliance standards

    Meet compliance standards for digital signatures, including advanced and qualified levels under eIDAS (AES and QES) and industry standards such as 21 CFR Part 11.

  • Get started quickly

    Digital signature capabilities are embedded into your existing DocuSign eSignature and Identify workflows. Use our prebuilt integrations or APIs to quickly connect to the systems you already use.

Learn how Standards-Based Signatures work

Ask Questions About Digital Signatures

DocuSign supports all levels of signature

Combine the power of eSignature platform and Identify to easily and quickly complete digital signatures.

  • A document with a signature and a notice saying "Document Signed"

    Electronic Signature

    DocuSign eSignature is trusted by hundreds of millions of users worldwide and meets electronic signature regulations, including eIDAs.

  • A document with a prompt to adopt an electronic signature before signing.

    Advanced Electronic Signature

    Add DocuSign ID Verification to your electronic signature process to validate signer identity and support AES. This is needed in use cases that require stricter identity assurance.

  • A prompt to review and act on documents within DocuSign eSignature.

    Qualified Electronic Signature

    Meet QES standards by combining eSignature with our partner solutions from IDnow. QES is the only signature legally equivalent to a handwritten wet signature in the EU and is preferred for highly regulated use cases or cross-border transactions.

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Global Network of Trust Service Provider partners

DocuSign integrates with a global network of ID and trust services. Since all digital signatures include a digital certificate issued by a Trust Service Provider, these integrations support your efforts to comply with digital signature standards around the globe from a single cloud-based solution.

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One million customers from over 180 countries

  • 1 Billion
    users and more than one billion eSignature transactions
  • 3,000+
    provincial and local government agencies use DocuSign
  • 44
    languages can be used for signing and 14 languages can be utilized for sending

Customers use digital signatures for many types of agreements

    • Account openings

    • Investment and private banking

    • Trusts and pensions

    • Medical records and evidence

    • Partner and vendor agreements

    • Insurance agreements

    • Clinical research portals

    • HR documents (terminations, temp worker agreements)

    • Consumer loans

    • Contracts or inheritance

    • Manufacturing quality management

    • Engineer change process/approvals

Resources

Learn more about digital signatures

  • Digital Signatures for the EU

    Learn more about how DocuSign solutions for digital signatures.

    View the Datasheet
  • Signing Around the World with Electronic Signatures

    Learn how DocuSign supports electronic and digital signatures in the EU and worldwide.

    Learn about Global Signatures
  • Implementing Electronic Signatures and Digital Signatures with DocuSign

    Learn more about the different types of digital signatures and which ones are relevant for your specific use case.

    Read the Implementation Whitepaper

Standards-Based Signature FAQs

  • The terms “electronic signature” and “digital signature” are often conflated. For the vast majority of agreements and records, an electronic signature is sufficient. A digital signature is a subset of electronic signature that adds another layer of security to a signed document. A digital signature is supported with a digital certificate and uses Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which adds proof of signer identity and enhanced security to a legally enforceable signature.

  • Advanced Electronic Signatures (AES) add ID verification to the electronic signature signing process. Signatures must be uniquely linked to and able to identify the signer. Signature records are capable of showing evidence of tampering.

    Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) have more stringent requirements mandating face-to-face identity verification. (The face-to-face identification can be live and in-person or via an audio/video connection.)  A QES is unique in that it’s considered legally equivalent to a handwritten signature.

  • In Canada, digital signatures are typically used in regulated industries like life sciences for compliance with Health Canada’s requirements for electronic signatures, often referred to as 21 CFR Part 11. Another example is the US Federal Government, where federal employees can be issued a personal identity verification (PIV) card that contains a PKI digital certificate for signing that complies with the US Federal Processing Standards.

    Around the world, there are international standards that specify requirements for digital signatures and the methods used to authenticate a signer. Regulations include the Code of Civil Procedure in Brazil and Section 1803 of the Civil Code in MexicoElectronic IdentificationAuthentication and Trust Services regulation (eIDAS) in the EU, and the Electronic Transactions Acts in Australia.

  • DocuSign works with Trust Service providers from around the world to offer digital certificates and digital signatures through the DocuSign platform. 

    See the global list of Trust Service Providers here.

Digital signatures are available worldwide with DocuSign Standards-Based Signatures